News and Announcements - December 2008

GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE DONATES TO THE CAMP OUT FOR HUNGER

Gwynedd-Mercy College has donated 2196 pounds of food to Preston & Steve’s Camp Out for Hunger, part of local rock station 93.3 WMMR’s efforts to alleviate hunger during the holiday season. All donations benefit Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization. Gwynedd-Mercy College has been donating to the Camp Out for Hunger for eight years. Each year, the Student Government Association collects and drops off donations at the Camp Out, located at the Metroplex Shopping Center in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. The amount of food that the College has donated this year surpassed its goal of one ton and sets a record for Gwynedd-Mercy College. Radio personalities Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison thanked Gwynedd-Mercy College during their broadcast on Monday morning, Dec. 1.

Radio personality Preston Elliot of Preston & Steve's morning show on MMR broadcasting live from the Camp Out for Hunger on Dec. 1.

Gwynedd-Mercy College students brave the cold with hot chocolate at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 1, the first day of Preston & Steve’s Camp Out for Hunger. Members of the College’s Student Government Association - Krysta Szymanik, Kathryn Herens, Chelsea Wilson, Courtney Cox, Tess Montalvo and Christine Devine - helped unload the 2196 pounds of food that Gwynedd-Mercy College donated.

SURPRISE ENDING TO GMC SPIRIT RALLY

Gwynedd-Mercy College’s men’s soccer team helped grant a birthday wish to local boy Luke Ronco, who the team “adopted” in August 2008 through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. Luke, 9 years old, has been battling a brain tumor for six years. He attends GMC soccer games and practices, and likes to do the coin toss before the games.

When asked how he wanted to celebrate his upcoming birthday, Luke said “with my soccer team.”

Men’s soccer coach Dave Bontempo heard that Luke collects Pez dispensers and asked his son and daughter to send the message out on the Facebook social network. The result was an outpouring of responses, doubling Luke’s collection to be over 1,000 Pez dispensers. Luke was introduced at a spirit rally at Gwynedd-Mercy College on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and presented with the items, including a book autographed by Pat Croce, a T-shirt and hat autographed by St. Joe’s University coach Phil Martelli, and a poster autographed by Penn State University’s basketball team.

Above:  The men's soccer team sings "Happy Birthday" to their teammate, Luke Ronco. Luke will be 10 in December.

Left:  The men's basketball team help Luke score for his surprise new Pez collection!

Channel 6 ABC news visited campus to speak to Luke. Watch the video:  http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6537660

Visit Luke's website:

http://www.caringbridge.org/pa/lukeronco/

Shannon Blacker Appointed Director of Alumni Relations